Feeding mechanism for wood pulp grinders



Nov. 17, 1953 J. J. KEON 2,659,537

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WOOD PULP GRINDERS Filed Oct. 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l :Nvsmon JAMES J. KEG/Y ATTY.

a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMES J KEON J. J. KEON x a m m M E FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WOOD PULP GRINDERS Nov. 17, 1953 FiledOct. 27, 1950 Nov. 17, 1953 J. J. KEON 2,659,537

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WOOD PULP GRINDERS Filed Oct. 27, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet .3

mvim'on JAMES J. KEON ITTY.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR WOOD PULP GRINDER/S James J. Keon, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada,

assignor to The William Kennedy & Sons Limited, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, a corporation Application October 27, 1950, Serial No. 192,409

Claims.

This invention relates to wood pulp grinders and feeding mechanism therefor. The invention is particularly applicable to the feeding of logs to grinders of the type disclosed in Roberts U. S. Patent No. 2,282,887 dated May 12, 1942, but is applicable to other types of grinders.

In practice, wood pulp grinders are usually fed by hand. In the Roberts type of grinder this requires the services of one man for each grinder. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an efiicient feed mechanism which would eliminate the necessity of hand feeding, requiring only the occasional services of an operator to fill a hopper, but also to provide means where a number of grinders can be fed from the same or adjacent hoppers requiring only the services of one man to keep the hopper or hoppers supplied with logs.

Inasmuch as in the Roberts Grinder and many other grinders, it is necessary that the logs be fed in a uniform position lengthwise of the grinding wheel, that i to say with its sides parallel to the sides of the grinding wheel, it is not possible merely to drop the logs into the grinding chamber, they must be fed in successively in the proper position. Another object of the invention is to provide mechanical means for doing this.

The objects of the invention are attained intial- 1y by conveyor mechanism which carries the logs out in the proper position one at a time from a hopper and carries them to a feed mechanism. The feed mechanism consists primarily of a reciprocating receptacle which operates like a shuttle forwardly to deposit the logs in the grinder and backwardly to receive another log. According to the invention means is provided for automatically actuating the receptacle and discharging it.

, The invention is hereinafter more particularly described and is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying more or less diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the feed mechanism showing the hopper in horizontal section and showing the grinder in diagrammatic top elevation;

Fig. 2 is a side view with the hopper and the grinder partly broken away and showing the feed mechanism in forward or feeding position in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the feed mechanism showing the feed receptacle in raised, inoperative, log-receiving position as contrasted with Figs. 1 and 2 in which the receptacle is illustrated with a log supported therein, ready I01 the forward or feeding movement; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the mechanism as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the drawings corresponding parts are identified by the same reference numeral in each figure.

The feed mechanism is illustrated and described as used with a grinder of the type disclosed in the aforesaid Roberts Patent No. 2,282,887. It is shown as applied to one grinder only. It will be understood, however, that suitable conveyor mechanism may carry logs from the same hopper to a number of similar feed mechanisms associated with other grinders and that by suitable modification one feed receptacle might be adapted to move in one direction to feed one grinder and in the other direction to feed another adjacently located grinder.

Details of air valves and air cylinders or hydraulic jacks which are used in the operation of the feed mechanism are not shown since they are of standard construction. While mechanism is shown as being pneumatically operated, it will be clear that with slight modification it could readily be operated by some other source of power such as electrical power by substituting electrical switches for the air valves shown and described, electrical conductors for the air hoses, and motors or solenoids for the air cylinders or hydraulic jacks shown. In the specification and claims the word switch is used generically to include an actuating air valve or an equivalent electrical switch where applicable.

. Referring now to the drawings, the hopper I is substantially vertical or perpendicular to the charging floor 2 on which the logs to be ground are stored. An operator feeds logs from the charging floor through the aperture therein into the hopper I. These logs 3 are arranged lengthwise of the hopper and the hopper is substantially as long as the log and of sufficient width to accommodate two logs arranged substantially side by side at the opening and preferably flares out towards the bottom to allow the logs to spread out. The rear wall of the hopper I extends down below the bottom of the front wall, thus providing an opening at the front of the hopper for the exit of the logs. As shown in Fig. 4 the sides of the hopper extend down to the upper edge of the conveyors, which are hereafter described and preferably extend out substantially horizontally on each side of the conveyor from the lower end of the front wall of the hopper.

Two endless belt-type conveyors, shown diafirst conveyor 4 is located below the open lower 3 end of the hopper I, and second conveyor (see Fig. 4) located at the discharge end of the conveyor 4 and receives logs and carries them to the feed mechanism.

Both conveyors 4 and 5 are driven from drive pulley 8 through belt 'I to pulley 8 secured to rotatably journalled shaft 9 on which is mounted sprocket I0, which in turn drives sprocket II on shaft I2.

The conveyor 4 is formed of three chains I3, which pass around sprockets on shaft I2 and' idler shaft I4. Extending across the chains are flights diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4 and identified by the numeral I5. The conveyor 5 consists of two chains I6, I6 extending around sprockets on the shaft I2 and on the idler shaft I I. This conveyor also is provided with flights extending transversely of the chains and identified by the reference numeral I8 in Fig. 4.

The flights I5 ,on the conveyor 4 are very low, preferably about 1 5" high. These serve to keep the logs agitated to prevent them from jamming and also are sufficiently high 'to urge the logs forwardly towards the discharge opening in the hopper and on to the conveyor 5; The conveyor 5, on the other hand is provided with flights of considerably greater height, preferably about 2" high and spacedapart sufliciently to accommodate one log between each adjacent flight, while the conveyor 4 is shown in the drawing at an angle of about 38 to the horizontal, the angle of this conveyor is not important and it might be more or less horizontal. However, it is important that the conveyor 5 be at a considerable upward incline so that the logs which may have been engaged by aflight will tend'to assume a position normal to the conveyor. Moreover, if a log should be carried up the conveyor at an angle across one of the flights, when the flight has reached the discharge end of the conveyor the flight will pass around the sprocket and out of engagement with the log. The force of gravity caused by the upward incline of the conveyor will then' cause the end of the log to roll back against the next flight so that when the next flight discharges it from the conveyor it will be in the desired normal position for discharge into the feed mechanism.

The driving sprockets for the chains I3 and I6 of the conveyors 4 and 5 are geared so that the conveyor '5 will operate three or four timesas fast as the conveyor "4. It has'been found by this arrangement that the logs in the hopper are keptagitated and moving andare fed to the conveyor 5 steadily in'the proper position" and without jamming.

The conveyor mechanism is geared tofeed any-standard form anddo not form part of this invention, with theexception of one limit switch for stopping the'mechanism inthe event that the grinder becomes filled to capacity,v and until the grinder is prepared :toxaccept more logs. Thisv switch device will be hereafter more particularly, described.

The feed mechanismbomprises .primarily the reciprocable receptacle 20 which is a semi-cylindrical metal trough of sufficient size to conveniently receive the largest diameter log usable in the grinder. The open side of the trough is normally facing upward to receive a log which is fed into it by the conveyor 5. The receptacle 25 is mounted ona rotatable shaft 2I journalled in bearings 22 and 23, supported by plate 24. The free end of the receptacle extends outwardly from one end of the plate 24, and the plate 24 is hingedly mounted on a dolly 25, the hinged mounting being at the end of the plate 24 from which the receptacle projects, and which for convenience canv becalled the forward end of the dolly.' The -hinging is effected by providing knuckles 24 and 24 on the plate 24 and upwardly extending lugs 25 on the dolly through whichiaihingeqainflfi passes to form the hinge. Apin 21 .is secured to and projects upwardly from the dolly 25 and is provided with a head and a coil spring 28 is inserted between the head of" the pin 21 and the plate 24, tending to press the plate downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 so that its rearward end engages the topjof the-dolly 25. This tilts the plate 24 so that the receptacle 20 is normally in the raised position shown in Fig. 3. Thepressure of the spring 28 is such that the weight of a log '3 will depress the-receptacleZO, causing the plate 24 to pivot and lift upwardly away from the dolly 25 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The dolly 25'operates ontwo pair of wheels 29, 29 betweenupper and lower tracks or guide members 30, 30 and 3|, 3I respectively. The tracks 30 and BI are-supported by uprights 32, 32 and- 33, 33 and when the receptacle 20 is in positionfor receiving a log, that is to say its backward or retracted position, it projects forwardly from the dolly nearly to the forward end of the tracks 30 and 3l whichare placed adjacent the grinder 34, opposite .the'feed opening 34 Means are provided-"for moving the receptacle 2D by means of the dolly forwarduntil the dolly reaches the 'forward'ends of the tracks 30, 3I adjacent grinder 34 and the receptacle 20 projects into the grinding chamber as illustrated indotted lines in Fig.-2 where the log 3 may be discharged.

Describing first the reciprocating means, there "is provided atthe rearward end of the plate- 24' -an arm 35having secured thereto an adjustable actuating member 36 having a slotted aperture therein to receive the end of a valve arm- 3! on'air valve-38. Extending from the valve 38-are air hoses '39 and 40 connected to opposite ends of an'air cylinder or hydraulic jack -4I having "a-piston 42 The air-valve 38 is mounted on the dolly 25 "at the rearward end thereof and a source of high pressure air connected'thereto through hose 43 from high pressure air source 44.

When a log is 'placedin'receptacle 20 it will drop causing the plate 24 to rise and opening the valve to permitair. to pass through a'hose 40 to the rearendof the air cylinder 4I causing the piston 42'to 'm'ove' forwardly. Piston 42 is swingthe .pivoted arm .45 .tothe position shown in dotted lines in.Fig. .2 and inove the receptacle into the. grinderv to the dotted line. position also shown in Fig, 2.

To discharge therlogfrom receptacle-20, the

receptacle is pivoted on shaft 2! in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 until the open side thereof is downwardly instead of upwardly directed permitting the log to drop to the position shown in Fig. 2 within the grinding chamber.

The mechanism for rotating the receptacle 2!) is also air operated and consists primarily of an air cylinder or hydraulic jack 50 shown most clearly in Fig. 4, which is supported on bracket 5| projecting upwardly from plate 24. Fixed to and projecting from the shaft 2! as shown only in Fig. 4 is an arm 52. The outer end of this arm 52 is pivotally connected to the end of the piston 53, and it will be observed that if the piston is moved down it will swing the arm 52 downwardly and rotate the shaft 2! and thus rotate the receptacle 2!).

The hydraulic jack 5!) is connected by air hoses 54 and 55 to air valve 55 as shown best in Fig. 2.

Air under pressure is carried through air hose 43 and air hose 43 to the air valve 56. Valve arm 51 extends upwardly at a slight angle from the perpendicular on the outside of track 3|, the air valve itself being mounted on the dolly 25. Adjustable stops 58 and 59 are mounted on the outside of the track 3! and are adapted to engage arm 51. When the dolly is in retracted or backward position the stop 59 engages the valve arm 51 to force it into a forwardly extending position as shown in the drawings and this admits air to air hose 55 to pull the arm 52 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4 where the receptacle 20 is in log-receiving position with its open side up. When the dolly proceeds along the tracks to the forward end of the tracks and carries the receptacle 20 into the grinder the valve arm 51 strikes stop 58 to move the valve arm to a rearwardly extending position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This admits air through hose 54 as shown in Fig. 4 and forces the piston 53 down, rotating the arm 52 downwardly and revolving the receptacle 2B in the direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 2 to discharge the log into the grinding chamber. On the return of the receptacle the air cylinder or jack 50 returns it to log receiving position and the process is repeated as long as logs are fed to the grinder.

It will be observed from the above description that the air valves 38 and 56 act as switches and are in fact switches for regulating the reciprocating and rotating movements of the trough or receptacle 20 in order to feed and discharge logs into the grinding chamber.

It will be observed that if the grinding chamber is already full of logs the log will not discharge when the receptacle is rotated to discharge position. Although the receptacle may be withdrawn on the next approach the top log will project above the feed opening 34 and will jam the feed mechanism. In order to prevent this a limit switch is provided which is shown diagrammatically in the drawing, particularl in Figs. 1 and. 2. In the side of the grinder op osite the feed opening 34 is another opening 34'" and a plate 60 is hinged on a pin 5! in said opening. The pin BI is located near the top of the opening and the pins therefrom. closing the opening. Pivotally secured to the lower free end of the plate 6!! is a rod 62. ihe other end of the rod 52 slides freely through an aperture in a bracket 63 and a spring 64 extends between said bracket and a stop 65 on the rod 62, the spring being of suiilcient tension to force the plate 60 slightly into the interior of the grinding. chamber of the grinder 34. Mounted on bracket 66 is a limit switch 61 actuated by an arm 68 the free end of giahich is engaged by member 69 fixed to the rod It will be clear from the above description that if a log strikes the plate 60 the rod 62 will be pressed outwardly and will move the arm 68. The limit switch 61 is connected in a manner not shown to a source of power which drives the conveyors and to the source of compressed air for the feed mechanism so that when it is actuated by the arm 68, the source of power and compressed air will be cut oil thus stopping the mechanism completely until the log drops below the swinging plate 60 permitting the spring 64 to push it back into the position shown in the drawing thus actuating the limit switch to restore the power to the conveying and feed mechanism.

Various alternative constructions have been suggested from time to time throughout the specification and it will be understood that other changes and modifications in the specific structure may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in subjoining claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Feed mechanism for feeding logs to a grinder, comprising a receptacle adapted to receive and support a log, means for reciprocating the receptacle to and from the grinder, means for turning the receptacle about its axis to discharge the log into the grinder, means normally retaining the receptacle in partly raised position but responsive to the weight of a log to permit the receptacle to drop to a lower position and means actuated by the dropping of the receptacle for automatically starting the reciprocating means when the receptacle drops under the weight of a log.

2. Feed mechanism for feeding logs to a grinder, comprising a receptacle adapted to receive and support a log, a dolly in which the receptacle is hinged and from one end of which the receptacle projects, guides on which the dolly is mounted for reciprocal movement to and from the grinder, means for reciprocating the dolly on said guides, means for turning the receptacle about its axis to discharge the log into the grinder, means normally retaining the receptacle in partly raised position but responsive to the weight of a log to permit the receptacle to drop to a lower position and means for automatically starting the reciprocating means when the receptacle drops under the weight of a log.

3. Feed mechanism for feeding logs to a grinder, comprising a receptacle adapted to receive and support a log, means for moving the receptacle to and from the grinder, means for discharging the receptacle into the grinder, means normally retaining the receptacle in partly raised position but responsive to the weight of a log to permit the receptacle to drop to a lower position, means for turning the receptacle about its axis to discharge the log into the grinder, and a reversing switch actuated to start the moving means forward when the receptacle drops, and to start the reciprocating means in a reverse direction when the receptacle rises.

4. A grinder for logs including a chamber, a feed opening in the chamber, grinding means in the chamber, a receptacle adapted to receive and support a log, means for moving the receptacle through the feed opening to deposit a log in the grinder, means for discharging the log from the receptacle within the chamber, means for moving .the receptacle out of the chamber after. a log has beenidischarged therein and a limit-switch actuated by engagement with alog in the chamher to stop the receptacle moving means while the log is engaged with the switch.

'5; Feed mechanism for feeding logs to a r nder C p g a receptacle adapted to receive and support a log, means for reciprocating the receptacle in the direction of its longitudinal axis to and away from the grinder, means for turning the receptacle about its axis to discharge the log into the grinder, means normally retaining the receptacle in partly raised position but responsive to the weight of the log to permit the Number Name Date Fowler -1 Sept; 7, 1875 Rowe July 5, 1898 Taylor --Sept. 3,1907 Swindell Aug. 11, 1914 'VanI-Iouten Nov. 16, 1915 Sellers Nov. 11, 1924 Read May 12, 1929 Shaw Jan. 15, 1935 Landry July 30, 1940 Jones Jan. 27, 1942 Roberts May 12, .1942 

